Why evolve consciousness? Neural credit and blame allocation as a core function of consciousness
Behavioral and Brain Sciences January 1, 2022 DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x21001953 (opens in new tab)
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractConsciousness may serve a core function by globally feeding back information about actions that were actually executed, thereby supporting local learning through neuronal updating. Brains operate as parallel systems that compute possible actions and predict outcomes. This hypothesis addresses critiques about the evolutionary function of consciousness by proposing that consciousness per se plays a specific role in providing feedback on executed actions, which aids in adjusting and refining neural processes for learning.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Proposes that a core function of consciousness is the global feedback of information about executed actions to support local learning via neuronal updating. |
Abstract
AbstractI concur with Merker and colleague's critiques, suggesting that hypotheses about the evolutionary function of consciousness can help address them. Brains are parallel systems that function to compute possible actions and predict outcomes. I hypothesize that a core function of consciousness per se is the global feedback of information about those actions actually executed, supporting local learning via neuronal updating.